The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-06-29
WEDNESDAY,. JUNE %, 1887
MR. HoFFNUNG SPEAKS.


Mr. Abram Hofnung, Hawaiian
Charge d Affaires in London, who ar
rived here by the steamer Australia
yesterday, was interviewed by a Call
reporter in San Francisco. His state
ments would indicate that he knew
more about the actual situation in this
Kingdom than residents. Such
thorough information as he evinces
stamps him as a most invaluable diplo-
mat for any country to have in the
worlds metropolis But there is a
probability that he will know yet a lit
tie more OF the condition Of this
country before he is here many days.
Mr.. Hoffnung in the first place ex-
pressed himself to the reporter in very
sanguine terms regarding the future
prospects Of sugar, in which there was
certain TO be a rise from which Hawaii
would benefit above all sugar produc-
ing countries on account OF having the
best climate and soil on the globe ios
sugar growing. Beet sugar had no
chance in competition with cane, the
former being only supported by subsi-
dies in Europe. Mr.. Hofnung on this
point says, and his words are encourag-
ing
The great source Of the sugar sup
ply was the sugar-cane, and experience
he'd shown that il must ever be so; and
as the Hawaiian Islauus yiviJsd
double the amount OF sugar per acre
that could be grown in the West In
dies, and three times as much as the
sugar producing area in the Uuited
States, the great bulk Of the sugar con-
sumed would inevitably be grown
there.
Then Mr.. Hoffnung drifts into
politics, showing himself versed in the
sentiments of the Hawaiian Premier's
organs. He will perhaps find out in
Honolulu that there is no ''pretexr
needed ito bring the Government into
disfavor" The Government, both
King and Cabinet, have done that
work pretty effectively themselves
This is Mr.. Hofnung's say, however,
which il we did not give it away might
be pirated to start leader in the local
organ
The carping and grumbling about
hard times in the islands were more
the result Of political influences than
anything else, the "outs," as matter
Of course, being anxious to displace
the party in power, and ayailing them
selves Of any pretext that afforded
them chance to bring the Govern
ment into disfavor.
Mr.. Hofnung then tells how we'll off
the Islands are, with debt of $40 a
head Of the total population and the
largest exports per head of any country
in the world. He might more accu-
rately have placed the per capita debt
at $3o--not such an oyerwhelm-
ing rate il represented by perm
anent improvements, or If not
compared with an almost total alb
sence of debt not very long ago. Mr.
Hofnung next expatiates on the two
million loan, repeating the rather
stale reports Of several months ago re-
garding its prodigious success, threw
ing no light on the main points Of in
terest to the people Of the Kingdom,
namely, how the realizations from the
loan have been and are being spent,
and how much the country is going to
get out Of it all told. 1t remains,
however, for his remarks on the opium
scandal to show how much better in
formed our diplomatic representative
at London is upon local events than
the people living on the Islands and
right in the capital. On this matter he
discourses, according to the inter-
viewer, as follows
Much was also heard about the ex-
trayagance of the present administra
ton, the Kings taking brides for opium
privileges, and more Of similar sort,
which was absolutely false, He would,
he said, as soon believe that Gladstone
would accept bride as Kalakaua; and